The impact of heatwaves to your measured bill

We've been experiencing record temperatures and heatwaves in 2026, but increased temperatures happening earlier in the year can also impact your bill.

Unprecedented heatwaves in May and June 2026 drove a sharp rise in water use, with demand being well above average and peaking at over 1000 mega litres a day. A thousand mega litres of water is enough to fill four hundred Olympic sized swimming pools

We work around the clock to move water throughout our network and keep up with demand, although this increased usage can also cause your measured bill to increase if we usually take a meter reading in early summer, and you've used more water than normal by the time of year.

Protecting Our Water Future

Water. It belongs to all of us. Protecting and enhancing this precious resource is a key priority.

The environment in Wales is under threat as never before, environmental factors and can have a huge impact on water resources, such as our reservoirs and waterways. Populations are growing, the way we use water is changing and demand is increasing.

Climates are changing, hotter, more prolonged dry periods and extreme weather situations are leading to water becoming scarcer. We can all play in part in protecting and valuing every drop.

We have a shared responsibility to protect it for now and for future generations.

To find out more about our AMP8 plans to make Every Drop Count, click here.

Lets use a bit less, and save a bit more.

Saving water in the bathroom

Take a shower instead of a bath. And, if you can reduce your shower time from 10 minutes to 4 minutes, you can save approx. 15,000 litres a year, that’s around £45 saved on your water bills for metered customers! Plus, all of the energy saved heating the water.
Don't leave the tap running when brushing your teeth – Turning off the tap while brushing could save approx. 6,000 litres of water a year, that’s around £20 per year in savings.
Why not try fitting a water efficient shower head? An energy saving shower head can save around 10,000 litres of water a year compared to a standard shower head! To get yours, create your profile on our Get Water Fit calculator.
If you have a dual flush toilet, check which button is the big flush, and only use the big flush when you need to. Using the big flush uses almost twice as much water as a small flush! And if its yellow – remember you can let it mellow!
Leaky loo? A leaking loo waste between 200 and 400 litres a day or 73,000 to 146,000 a year – sometime this number can be much higher. Fixing this could save you between £219 and £438 a year! Head on over to our Cartref programme to see how we can help.

Got a leaking loo or a loo that won't stop running?

We may be able to offer a free repair. We have helped over 1000 people so far!

Find out more about whether we can offer a free repair

Saving water in the kitchen

Use a washing up bowl or plug when doing the washing up, instead of leaving the tap running. Once you’ve finished the washing up, save the used water to wash any plastics or glass before recycling them.
Fix any leaking taps to avoid wasted water. Did you know a dripping tap can waste over 7,000 litres a year? This could cost you around £20 each year if it’s not fixed.
Wait until you have a full load before using the dishwasher, and always use the eco setting - this can save you over £15 a year.
Only fill the kettle with the water you need, overfilling the kettle not only wastes electricity but if the unused water is thrown away each time, this can cost you up to £5 in just your water bill if you are metered.
Keep tap water in the fridge for an instant cold drink to avoid running the tap.
If you are purchasing a new appliance which uses water, be sure to check how water efficient it is.

Looking at ways you can save water and money?

The Cartref team work closely with customers by offering a number of personal services, from offering free leaking loo repairs by our qualified plumbers to undertaking personalised in-home water efficiency visits to help you understand your water consumption and how you can make small changes that could have big impacts to your household bills and to the environment.

Find out more about our Cartref services here

Saving water in the garden

Use a watering can or handheld hose pipe (with hose gun) instead of a garden sprinkler.
A water butt is a great way to collect rainwater for use in the garden – available from our Product store.
Add water retention crystals to pots, tubs and hanging baskets to help keep compost moist.
Don't cut lawns too short and try to mulch the cuttings to improve soil health.

Are you a commercial customer?

Advice on how your business can save water.

Find out more about how your business can save water

Apply for a water meter

Only pay for as much water as you use.

Water meters

7 days a week

Our teams work seven days a week, and often overnight, fixing leaks as soon as we find them.

Getting water through our pipes fast enough is a real challenge in some areas and this is often worse at peak demand times – usually in the evenings and at weekends.

By using all the water you need, but being careful not to waste it, you can really help make a big difference.

If you notice a leak, please contact us on 0800 052 0130 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or click here.

Top tips for saving water

Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need

Keep tap water in the fridge - for an instant cold drink

Plants love rainwater - collect it in a water butt

Always wait for a full load before doing the washing

Recycle washing up water - use it to water the garden

Reusing water

There are other ways to use water in a household or business, that doesn’t come from our drinking water supply, and that’s using reclaimed water.

Reclaimed water has been previously used in some way, but is stored and then reused. This could include rainwater harvesting collected from roofs, or systems which reuse wash water from the bathroom or kitchen (grey water treatment). Depending on how much the reclaimed water is treated, it could be used for things like watering the garden, through to toilet flushing, use in washing machines, car washing, irrigation etc.

In the UK, reclaimed water systems are becoming more common. It’s a form of recycling and can be useful in reducing the water we need to supply you which could save you money, and also look after the environment. However, mixing of reclaimed water with the drinking water supply, could affect the water quality and could be harmful to health. The regulations allow us to check how such systems are installed.

If you are thinking about getting a reclaimed water system you should also think about:

Compliance with the regulations.
Is it cost effective?
How much water will you need, and what do you want to use it for?
Do you have enough room for the installation, and will it need any protection (e.g. from frost, agriculture or vermin)?
Maintenance requirements.

More detailed information can be found at:

The British Standard (BS8515:2009– Rainwater Harvesting Systems Code of Practice, and BS8525-1:2010 – Greywater systems code of practice).
Water Regs UK website publications.